United stand against family violence

White Ribbon motorbike rider Maurice Tarei travelled with around 25 other riders on Monday to Featherston School and Makoura College to talk to pupils about family violence. PHOTO/ELI HILL

ELI HILL
eli.hill@age.co.nz

Around 25 motorbike riders stopped in Wairarapa on Monday, to encourage young adults and children to take a stand against family violence.

Members of the White Ribbon Ride met at Waiwhetu Marae in Upper Hutt on Monday morning before travelling to Featherston School and Makoura College to encourage pupils to stand up against family violence.

After being welcomed into the schools, bikers spoke about the effects of family violence, which many had experienced first-hand.

Others passed on their experiences of working in prisons and schools, and how it had involved both perpetrators and victims of family harm.

Rider Maurice Tarei said the people involved had come from as far away as Auckland and Dunedin to speak to the children.

“These guys are committed, some of them have come a long way and have taken time off work to be here to help teach these kids that we need to look after our women,” he said.